Anything to see or do in Qatar?

[Goughie]

Flying out on business this week with a stop off in Doha, Qatar. I thought I'd take a quick peek around if there's anything worth seeing? Anyone got any insight into Doha?

[turbobloke]

Some interesting hotels, stayed at the Rydges Plaza last time out. Also some interesting folks driving round in pick-ups with what looked like WW2 Bren Guns mounted in the back. As you do.

[Amaboknaai]

Erm...Qatar Airlines is brilliant, unfortunately, Doha Airport is a PIT. Been through there 2 x now and both times, delays kept me there for 6 hours at a time. Their communications there are pathetic, the Passport control is run by rude men (with TERRIBLE moustaches). The Duty Free did not have any official Bureau de Change and exchange rates were quoted by the salesmen tapping into hand-held calculators. I wanted to purchase a specific watch and was told that they were kept in the 1st Class Lounge and that I had to pay for it first and only then they would go and get it, so guess who lost a sale since I couldn't view it first?

Food at airport "restaurants" was awful - expensive, dirty and the whole airport had a whiff.

I would never fly with Qatar Airlines ever again due to the airport itself.

[NDA]

No.

[ettore]

Amaboknaai said:

Erm...Qatar Airlines is brilliant, unfortunately, Doha Airport is a PIT. Been through there 2 x now and both times, delays kept me there for 6 hours at a time. Their communications there are pathetic, the Passport control is run by rude men (with TERRIBLE moustaches). The Duty Free did not have any official Bureau de Change and exchange rates were quoted by the salesmen tapping into hand-held calculators. I wanted to purchase a specific watch and was told that they were kept in the 1st Class Lounge and that I had to pay for it first and only then they would go and get it, so guess who lost a sale since I couldn't view it first?

Food at airport "restaurants" was awful - expensive, dirty and the whole airport had a whiff.

I would never fly with Qatar Airlines ever again due to the airport itself.

Qatar airlines are great and there is now an exclusively first and business class terminal which is also great.

The souk has been smartened up and is worth a visit as is the new, very impressive, museum of islamic art.

Other than that you could go to a hotel for a drink and a dip in the sea..

[fuctifino]

No.

It's a sthole from one end to the other, imagine Dubai or Abu Dhabi 40 years ago and you've got it spot-on.

p.s. The beer's expensive too.

Edited by fuctifino on Tuesday 17th February 17:51

[mgp1969]

No

[Gunny Sergeant D]

Amaboknaai said:

Erm...Qatar Airlines is brilliant, unfortunately, Doha Airport is a PIT. Been through there 2 x now and both times, delays kept me there for 6 hours at a time. Their communications there are pathetic, the Passport control is run by rude men (with TERRIBLE moustaches). The Duty Free did not have any official Bureau de Change and exchange rates were quoted by the salesmen tapping into hand-held calculators. I wanted to purchase a specific watch and was told that they were kept in the 1st Class Lounge and that I had to pay for it first and only then they would go and get it, so guess who lost a sale since I couldn't view it first?

Food at airport "restaurants" was awful - expensive, dirty and the whole airport had a whiff.

I would never fly with Qatar Airlines ever again due to the airport itself.

+1

I never left the airport. The prices at the duty free were a complete joke sometimes twice the UK. Despite being a relatively new airport, the toilets are disgusting. We had 4 hours to kill, thank god we found a Costa Coffee shop.

[King of Dings]

Goughie said:

Flying out on business this week with a stop off in Doha, Qatar. I thought I'd take a quick peek around if there's anything worth seeing? Anyone got any insight into Doha?

No !

The only reason to go there is to do a 'visa hop'.

[Nolar Dog]

Interesting views on the airport.

I've flown to Thailand several times (about 7 or 8 trips) in the last couple of years with Qatar via Doha. Never had a delay, issue or cause for complaint with the airline or the airport.

Now Abu Dhabi airport is another matter. I detest the place.

[Goughie]

Thanks for the heads up guys - looks like I'll be sticking to the business suite in the airport then!